Ski pole strap attachment



Feb. 1, 1966 R. E. LEWIS 3,232,632

SKI POLE STRAP ATTACHMENT Filed April 5, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ROBERT E. LEWIS ATTORNEYS SKI POLE STRAP ATTACHMENT Filed April a, less 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ROBERT E. LEWIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,232,632 SKI POLE STRAP ATTACHMENT Robert E. Lewis, 21911 Highview, Mount Clemens, Mich. Filed Apr. 5, 1963, Ser. No. 271,002 Claims. (Cl. 2S0-.-11.3'7)

This invention relates generally to the ski art, and more particularly to a novel and improved ski pole strap attachment means.

A disadvantage of the prior art type ski strap structures is that when the skier wishes to detach his hands from the ski pole straps at the chair lift, the clubhouse and so forth, he must hold the ski pole with the opposite hand and pull the attached hand through the prior art strap. The process is reversed for removing the other hand from the attached ski pole. A further disadvantage of the prior art type ski strap attachment structure is that it is necessary to pick the proper pole for the proper hand. A further disadvantage of the prior art type strap attachment structure is that it is cumbersome when attaching the band to the strap attachment. It was necessary to open the prior strap attachment while simultaneously slipping the hand through the opening. A further disadvantage of the prior art type ski strap structure is that once the gloved hand of the skier is mounted through the ski strap it is usually necessary to adjust the hand because the hand is not in the proper aligned position in relation to the strap relative to the pole. The hand usually has to be rotated or moved up or down to get the proper feel of the hand on the pole. Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved ski pole strap attachment structure which permits a skier to quickly and easily attach or detach his hand to or from a ski pole and wherein the ski strap is automatically aligned with the hand.

It is a further objective of the present invention to provide 'a novel and improved ski pole strap attachment structure wherein it is possible to attach the strap to a ski pole in a quick and easy manner by merely snapping an eyelet on the end of the strap over an anchor pin on the handle end of the ski pole.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a novel and improved ski pole strap attachment means whereby either ski pole may be used with either hand of the skier.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a novel and improved ski pole strap attachment structure which may be quickly and easily detached from a ski pole by merely depressing a release button with the thumb of the hand attached to the pole and lifting the end of the ski strap off the pole with the index finger of the same hand in a quick and uncomplicated manner.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved ski pole attachment structure which includes a ski strap having one end attached to a mitten so as to be disposed in a position aligned with the hand when the strap is attached to the ski pole so as to prevent any need for adjusting the hand relative to the strap and pole.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved ski pole strap attachment structure which includes a releasable holding means on the handle end of a ski pole, a ski pole strap having an attachment means on one end of the ski strap for engagement with the holding means on the ski pole to releasably secure the ski strap to the ski pole, and fastening means for securing the other end of the ski strap to a mitten.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts of the several views.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a ski pole provided with a ski pole strap attachment made in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the ski pole strap in a detached condition;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1, taken along the line 33 thereof and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1, taken along the line 44 thereof and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the ski strap structure illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of of a modified ski pole strap attachment made in accordance with the principles of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of another modified ski pole strap attachment made in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4, the numeral 10 generally designates a conventional ski pole provided with a ski pole strap attachment made in accordance with the principles of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the upper end of the ski pole 10 is provided with a conventional releasable holding means, generally indicated by the numeral 11, which is threadably mounted in place on the handle end of the ski pole. The numeral 12 indicates a post which is threaded in place in the handle end of the ski pole and which is retained in place by the lock nut 13. The lock nut 13 secures an end cap 14 on the upper end of the handle 15. The releasable holding means 11 includes a release button 16 which is hollow and which is slidably mounted in the upper open end of the post 12. A retainer cam or catch 17 extends outwardly through the slots in the side of the post 12 and release button 16 and is cammed outwardly by means of a spring 18. When the release button 16 is depressed in the usual manner, it functions to cam the retainer catch 17 inwardly against the pressure of the spring 18 to permit release of a connector from the post 12 as more fully described hereinafter. It will be understood that any other suitable quick releasable holding means as 11 may be used.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the numeral 19 generally designates a conventional ski mitten to which is secured a ski pole strap and said strap, generally indicated by the numeral 20, has one end adapted for quick and easy attachment to the handle end of the ski pole and the other end adapted to be attached to the glove 19 so as to hold the ski strap in alignment with the hand of the user for ready grasping of the ski pole. The ski pole end of the strap 20 is indicated by the numeral 21 and is provided with the eyelet 22 which is adapted to be slipped over the button 16 and into the holding means pin 12. The eyelet 22 may be mounted on the holding pin 12 by merely pushing down on the same so as to cam the catch 17 inwardly against the pressure of the spring 18. It will be seen that the catch 17 will prevent the eyelet 22 from slipping off the pin 12. The eyelet 22 may be termed an attachment means for engagement with the holding means 11 to releasably secure the ski strap to the ski pole and to provide a swivel action between the strap and the pole.

3 A-s shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the other end of the ski strap is secured by suitable fastening means to the mitten 19 in an aligned operative position for ready attachment to the ski pole. The numeral 23 indicates the large end or lower end of the ski strap and it is sewn to the intermediate portion 2 of a wrist stray generally indicated by the numeral 25. The intermediate portion 24 of the wrist strap and the lower end 23 of the ski strap 29 are fixedly secured together by any suitable means, as by the stitching 26.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the wrist strap 25 is adapted to be disposed about the mitten and around the wrist of a user and to be secured to the mitten 19 An anchoring and aligning pin 27 is fixedly mounted on the rear side of the mitten and is adapted to receive the eyelet 28 on one end of the wrist strap, and this end is indicated by the numeral 29. The other end 30 of the wrist strap is provided with a conventional snap means 31 which is adapted to be snappedover the outer end of the pin 27 and secure the wrist strapsto the mitten 10. In the use of a ski pole provided with the ski pole strap attachment of the present invention, the user would simply insert his hand into the glove and snap the wrist strap 25 in place. The ski pole is held with the opposite hand and the eyelet 22 is quickly and easily disposed over the holding means pin 12. It will be seen that either pole may be used with the right or left hand of the user. The strap 20 may be quickly and easily detached from the pole by simply depressing the release button 16 with the thumb of the hand attached to the pole, and lifting upwardly on end 21 of the ski pole strap with the index finger of the same hand. The ski strap may thus be quickly and easily detached from the ski pole 10 without having to hold the pole with the opposite hand. It will be seen that the wrist strap 25 maintains the mitten 19 tight against the parka or sweater of the user, thus keeping snow and cold out. The mitten 19 may also be left attached to the ski pole 10 when not in use.

The ski strap of the present invention is much safer than the prior art type ski strap since, if the the ski pole 10 gets caught on an obstruction, the eyelet 22 will be detached from the pin 12 when excess pressure is excited on the catch 17 so as to release the strap from the pole. It will also be seen that the strap is always aligned with the pole 10 in a proper position for instant attachment thereto. The instant invention permits the user to detach the ski poles 10 in a fast. and easy manner so as to provide quicker mounting on a chair lift and quicker attachment to the poles on the top of a ski slope.

FIG. 6 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention and the similar parts are marked. with corresponding reference numerals followed by the small letter a. In the embodiment of FIG. 6 the lower enlarged end 23a of the ski strap 20:: is stitched to the front side of the mitten 19a by means of the stitching 26a. In this embodiment the wrist strap has been deleted. The embodiment of FIG. 6 functions in the same manner as the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 5.

FIG. 7 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention and the similar parts are marked with corresponding reference numerals followed by the small letter 12. In this embodiment, the lower or other end of the ski strap 2% is swivelly connected to the front of the glove 1% by means of the anchor pin .32. The lower end 33 a of the strap 20b is not enlarged and it is provided with the eyelet 34 which is snapped over the anchor pin 32 in a conventional manner. It will be seen that the strap 20b may be adjusted to other positions as desired, as indicated by the dotted line position 35. The embodimeat of FIG. 7 functions in the same maner as the aforedescribed embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 5.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiments of the invention herein disclosed are well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a ski pole having a handle adjacent the upper transverse end surface; a releasable push button operated attach and detach holding means on the upper end of the ski pole, including a post extended longitudinally outward from the pole upper end transverse surface; a ski pole strap; and, an attachment means on one end of said ski strap which is disposed transversely to the longitudinal axis of the pole and is engaged with said holding means post to releasably secure the ski strap to the ski pole whereby the ski strap may be quickly attached to the pole and detached therefrom with the use of a single hand of a skier.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1 including, a mitten; and, fastening means for securing the other end of said ski strap to the mitten so as to align the ski strap along the palm of the mitten for quick attachment of the ski strap to the ski pole.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2, wherein: said fastening means comprises an anchor pin secured to the mitten and a swivel connector member on said other end of the ski strap for swivelling connection with said anchor pin.

4. The structure as defined in claim 2, wherein: said fastening means comprises stitching securing said other end of the ski strap to the mitten.

5. In combination, a ski pole having a handle adjacent the upper transverse end surface; a releasable holding means on the upper end of the ski pole, including a post extended longitudinally outward from the pole upa per end transverse surface; a ski pole strap; an attachment means on one end of said ski strap which is disposed transversely to the longitudinal axis of the pole and is engaged with said holding means post to releasably secure the ski strap to the ski pole, whereby the ski strap may be quickly attached to the pole and detached therefrom with the use of a single band of the skier; a mitten; fastening means for securing the other end of said ski strap to the mitten so as to align the ski strap along the palm of the mitten for quick attachment of the ski strap to the ski pole; and, said fastening means comprising, a wrist strap connected to said other end of the ski strap, and means including an alignment pin for securing the ends of the wrist strap together in a position disposed around the mitten and the wrist of a user.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,361,565 12/1920 Christy 2160 X 2,083,604 6/ 1937 Hay 2159 2,710,409 6/1955 Burandt 2l60 2,787,003 4/1957 Pairlanti 2-161 3,170,703 2/1965 Marchand 28011.37

FOREIGN PATENTS 157,702 12/ 1932 Switzerland.

173,396 12/1952 Austria;

195,360 4/1938 Switzerland.

807,790 7/1951 Germany.

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

A. HARRY LEVY, Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION, A SKI POLE HAVING A HANDLE ADJACENT THE UPPER TRANSVERSE END SURFACE; A RELEASABLE PUSH BUTTON OPERATED ATTACH AND DETACH HOLDING MEANS ON THE UPPER END OF THE SKI POLE, INCLUDING A POST EXTENDED LONGITUDINALLY OUTWARD FROM THE POLE UPPER END TRANSVERSE SURFACE; A SKI POLE STRAP; AND, AN ATTACHMENT MEANS ON ONE END OF SAID SKI STRAP WHICH IS DISPOSED TRANSVERSELY TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE POLE AND IS ENGAGED WITH SAID HOLDING MEANS POST TO RELEASABLY SECURE THE 